Novel strategies enhancing endodontic disinfection: antibacterial biodegradable calcium hydroxide nanoparticles in an ex vivo model.

Due to the high failure rates associated to endodontic disinfection, this study aimed to investigate the antibacterial properties of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with Ca(OH)2 for endodontic disinfection procedures. Ca(OH)2 NPs production and physicochemical characterization were carried out as well as multiple antibacterial tests using three bacterial strains and an ex vivo model of endodontic infection with extracted human teeth. Agar diffusion test and broth dilution determined the inhibition growth zones (n=5) and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, n=5), respectively. Cell viability was assessed using Live/Dead staining with confocal microscopy (n=5). Data was analysed using ANOVA followed by post-hoc analysis. After 24 hours of incubation, Ca(OH)₂ NPs demonstrated a MIC of 10 µg/mL for Porphyromonas gingivalis (p<0.001) and Enterococcus faecalis and 5 µg/mL for Fusobacterium nucleatum (p